Each week, Steve Greenberg breaks down the 10-team race in the Big 12.

1. Kansas State (2-0)

2. Oklahoma (2-0)

3. Texas (2-0)

4. West Virginia (1-0)

5. Iowa State (2-0)

6. TCU (1-0)

7. Baylor (1-0)

8. Texas Tech (2-0)

9. Oklahoma State (1-1)

10. Kansas (1-1)

Rising

Iowa State. The Cyclones were underdogs in Week 1 vs. Tulsa, and again in Week 2 at Iowa. Guess that’s just part of life in the ISU program.

“We’ve been the underdog a lot more than two weeks in a row,” coach Paul Rhoads said. “We like the role, I guess. Or we’re used to the role. Maybe that’s more accurate.”

But they’re expected to win—easily—this week vs. Western Illinois, and then the question will be: Can the Cyclones take better care of a 3-0 start this time? They were 3-0 in 2011 before dropping their first four conference games.

Falling

Oklahoma State. Not many teams are capable of putting up 38 points yet still lose by 21, but Cowboys’ game scores never surprise us anymore. They’ll put the 59 points allowed at Arizona in their rearview mirror, but what coach Mike Gundy won’t let them forget about all season is the far more embarrassing numbers of 15 and 167.

Those were the Pokes’ penalty numbers (the 167 yards was a school record) in one of the sloppiest, least-disciplined performances you’ll ever see.

“I would expect our players to practice very well this week in eliminating those types of errors,” Gundy said.

“Four turnovers and 167 yards in penalties, that combination on the road basically eliminates any chance you have of winning a football game.”

Lead story

Eight Big 12 teams are averaging more than 200 yards per game in rushing. Sure, the season is only two weeks old, so the league could return to its blatantly pass-first ways. But will it?

Mack Brown doesn’t think so. “When you look at who’s winning national championships,” he said, “it’s been teams that can run the ball and be balanced—but also play defense against the run. To play great defense against the run, you’ve got to see it in practice every day. So I do think that people are trying to run the ball more.”

On the spot

Charlie Weis and Gary Patterson. One coach, Kansas’ Weis, is already trying to save his team’s season. The other, TCU’s Patterson, is in the perhaps unfair position of having to prove his program’s—if not his own—merit all over again. Patterson and the Horned Frogs earned everyone’s respect long ago, but they’re in one of the best leagues in the land now. They’ll take the field in Lawrence, Kan., as heavy favorites on Saturday, but will they deliver?